The Teacher as the Main Factor Influencing the Welfare of a Child at School: Perspectives from Estonian Families

Tiko, Anne

Childhood Education, v88 n6 p367-373 2012

This article is based on a larger study that examined the expectations and experiences of Estonian parents related to preparation for school, factors influencing the choice of the school, and school troubles and joys. This article focuses on the part of the study concerning the families' expectations for schools and teachers, and on the real experiences of children attending school. Since the study includes parents of children who are starting school, the focus is primarily on expectations and experiences that are related to the work of primary school teachers. This article is intended to provide veteran teachers, teachers in training, and teacher educators with information about how teacher characteristics affect the welfare of a child at school. Based on the results of the study, the author concludes that school is, unfortunately, not always conducive to developing the social capital that is necessary for a child's well-being. Estonian schools do not sufficiently value relationships between teachers and parents, and between parents themselves.